KidsRead2Kids: Spreading Joy One Book at a Time

About this entry

Success has never come easy to me. I started speaking when I was two and I learned to read in fourth grade. I missed out on a whole world of possibilities because I didn't know I was dyslexic.

Hi, I'm Jacob Blumenstein, and I co-founded a free website called KidsRead2Kids with my siblings Alana and Reuben. I spent my entire childhood feeling stupid because I thought I was alone in my struggles. I don't want anyone else to have to go through what I went through. We at KidsRead2Kids want to show other kids, like me, that they are not alone.

Being an avid reader helps you to succeed in school and in life, but for kids with learning disabilities, reading can be extremely difficult. So they tend to put the books down and their learning slows.
Studies show that listening to books is the most important activity to build the skills for reading success. But, the reading resources out there today use robotic voices, which are so hard to connect with.

Together, we can embark on great journeys, travel to foreign lands, and meet fascinating people. Everyone should experience the magic of reading. Let's change the world, one book at a time.

Why does this entry deserve to win?

KidsRead2Kids is the first of its kind. We are kids supporting kids working as hard as we can to change the lives of those who need it. Although originally developed for children with learning disabilities, our website is helpful to a wider audience including: dyslexic adults, ESL students, homeschoolers, and can even be used as bedtime stories for hospitalized kids.

Website: We created our website as a safe space for kids of all backgrounds to feel empowered and ready to learn. Our website is designed with clean lines and very few words per page so readers at any level can quickly and easily navigate.

Social Media: We plan on growing our viewers through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and additional interviews like our Fox2News story.

Compassion: Our welcome video is designed to put any child at ease. We openly admit to our struggles so they can immediately feel connected and know that there is hope and that they are not alone.

Community: Our readers represent different genders, races, and religious backgrounds to give any child a reader they could relate to and feel comfortable with. We sought high school students who were passionate about reading and active in the theater community to create lively, vibrant, and animated videos. Currently, we have sixteen readers and offer books including Little Women, Oliver Twist, and The Secret Garden.

Inclusiveness: We changed the covers of the books to simple graphics, so that any child can imagine themselves in the story. This way, children will choose books not by their cover, but by their content, and can visualize and relate to the characters in their own way.

Videos: We film each book chapter by chapter so each child can practice listening using different methods at their own pace. After our videos are uploaded, they are available for free worldwide. Our chosen novels are timeless. They will be just as important to children ten years from now as they are today.

Creative Budgeting: To get our initial working capital, Alana competed in and won two hundred and fifty dollars from the BBYO Building Entrepreneurship Shark Tank Competition. Working on a shoestring budget, we had to be creative.

Family: Reuben, age 11, designed our logo. Jacob, age 15, filmed, edited, and uploaded the videos and wrote original music for the site. His song, All I Know, tells the story of a day in the life of a dyslexic kid. Alana, age 17, recruited readers, wrote the copy of the website, and reads books for the site.

Results

KidsRead2Kids.com launched June 15th, 2017, with the goal of helping kids with learning disabilities worldwide. In two short months and with no marketing budget, we have gained viewership in over 30 countries, including: the US, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, UK, India, Egypt, and Spain.

We have used social media to make connections with prominent organizations that have promoted our website, including: International Dyslexia Association, Dyslexia Support Australia, Dyslexia Foundation of New Zealand, Dyslexia Malaysia, The Literacy Nest, and Orton Gillingham Online Academy.

We have received heartfelt messages of appreciation from parents and activists across social media.

Billy's Quest said: "Thank you! … Alana, Jacob, Julia, Reuben and all the amazing children reading books to those that need help and inspiration so they may find their own path to success!"

Empower Learning Center said: "Wow! What a terrific new website created by some amazing kids and their family! KidsRead2Kids—fabulous concept!"

Jennifer H. said: "Thank you so much! … I shared your recent news clip with [my son's] teacher last night and she cried. You guys are doing amazing work and my son is excited to start listening to his first book today!"

KidsRead2Kids has quickly become a unique and effective reading resource for kids with learning disabilities worldwide.

Millions of people participate in
The Shortys to recognize individuals and organizations producing great content on Twitter, Facebook,
Tumblr, YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, YouNow, Musical.ly,
and the rest of the social web.

The 10th annual shorty awards will be held april 15th, 2018 in new york city